Occupational Stress and Associated Factors among Sugarcane Farmers in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59796/jcst.V16N1.2026.155Keywords:
occupational stress, agricultural workers, risk factors, cross-sectional studies, ThailandAbstract
Sugarcane farming is physically demanding and exposes farmers to multiple stressors, increasing their risk of mental health problems. This study aimed to examine stress levels and identify the factors related to stress among sugarcane farmers in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 276 registered sugarcane growers in Sa Kaeo Province for at least one year using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were gathered through questionnaires between February and April 2025. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that most participants experienced high stress (49.3%), followed by moderate stress (25.0%) and severe stress (22.5%). Factors significantly associated with high stress among sugarcane farmers included experienced changes in climate variability, which showed the strongest association, followed by experiencing sugarcane product prices lower than last year, having moderate social support, incurring costs for cultivation of more than 10,000 Baht, lacking access to agricultural water sources, sleeping less than six hours, and sleeping six to seven hours (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions such as improved mental health services, agricultural subsidies, and reliable water access. Compared with previous Thai studies on farmer stress, this research provides new evidence by focusing on sugarcane farmers in Sa Kaeo Province, thereby contributing to more context-specific strategies for supporting farmer well-being.
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